Straining device.



Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

EYE; COOMBS.

STEAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILLED APR. 26, 1909.

P. E. GOOMBS STRAINING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AP1L26, 1909.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH C0.,WASHINUTON. D. c

FRANK EDWIN COOMBS, OF NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS.

STRAINING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Application filed April 26, 1909. Serial No. 492,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. COOMBS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Nat-ick, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straining Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to straining devices and is more particularly designed to strain the juices from suitably crushed or broken pulp of various kinds.

The principal object of my invention is to provide means for receiving juice containing broken or crushed pulp, straining the juice therefrom, and discharging the solid waste material.

The invention comprises, in its preferred form, a traveling endless screen ofspringy brass wire mesh that will not readily sag, with means for depositing the broken or crushed pulp upon a conveying portion thereof, means for receiving the juices which strain through the screen, and means for discharging the solid particles of waste matter and cleaning the screen.

Further specific features of novelty will be apparent from the description of an embodiment of my invention.

In screening devices of this character, the screen has a tendency to become clogged with fine particles of waste matter. To remove these particles I preferably employ a steam or compressed air blast at the discharge end of the screening device. Furthermore, the weight of the material upon the conveying portion of the screen tends to cause a sagging in the middle, and after the load has been removed the screen returns to its original shape. This constant sagging and returning to original shape has the effect of wearing out the screen in a short time. To avoid this disadvantage I preferably form the screen of springy brass wire mesh, disposed with the natural convexity, due to the permanent set of the mesh resulting from the rolled condition in which it comes from the factory, on the outer side, that is the upper side on the top length and the lower side on the underneath length. I also support the conveying portion of the screen throughout its entire width to prevent it from sagging and to hold it in cylindrical form while passing through the discharge end of the device. The screen itself may have stiffening or reinforcing wires if desired, and should be so arranged upon its conveying means that it bends at the same line or plane as the conveying means in passing over the ends of the device.

My invention can be illustrated by an embodiment of it for straining the mill juices from crushed sugar cane, and discharging.

the bagasse or waste pulp. Accordingly to enable those skilled in the art to more readily understand my invention, I shall clescribe by way of example, a screening device for separating the juices from crushed sugar cane.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan of such a screening device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the way-bars to be hereinafter described. Fig. 4: is a transverse sectional elevation showing a baflie plate for preventing the juice from falling upon the lower section of the screen, and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one of the chain links having a perforated lug for securing the metallic cross straps hereinafter described.

Referring now more specifically to said drawings, I have shown the device as supported upon a suitable frame comprising uprights 10 and longitudinal sills 11. Journaled at the discharge end of the frame is a shaft 12 driven by a belt pulley 13 or other suitable means, and having fixed thereon two sprocket wheels 14. Journaled in the receiving end of the frame is a shaft 15 which has two idle sprocket wheels 16. Mounted on the sprocket wheels 14 and 16 are chains 17 18 are uprights on the longitudinal sills 11, in which are mounted stay-rods 19. Stay-rods 19 have adjustably mounted upon them a suitable number of way-bars 20 which are provided with perforated ears 21 through which the stay-rods 19 pass. The way-bars 20 may be slightly curved downward at the receiving and discharge ends of the device as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Certain links of the chain 17 are provided with perforated lugs 22 to which are secured the ends of metallic supporting straps 23 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. These straps 23 rest upon the way-bars 20, and are carried along by the travel of the chains 17.

Mounted upon the straps 23 is an endless screen 2% 'ireferably of springy brass wire and if desired reinforced with stiffening wires) which is suitably secured to the straps 23 so that the screen is in the same plane as the chain link pivot centers and may thereby travel with the chains over the two sprockets 1 and 16 without stretching or bulging. Straps 23 are adapted to prevent the sag of the screen from coming into frictional contact with the way-bars 20.

25 is a feed trough which feeds the material upon the conveying portion of the screen 24 at the feed end of the device. This trough may he assumed to be supplied with crude cane juice from the crushing rollers, and is preferably provided, as shown, with guides for keeping the material near the middle of the screen.

26 indicates a blower pipe provided with suitable openings as shown in Fig. 2 for directing a steam or compressed air blast through the screen at the discharge end of the device, a shield 27 being suitably disposed to arrest the particles of solid matter which are blown out of the screen. Underneath the device, a receiving pan 28 may be provided, which discharges the juices in any suitable manner as by a discharge pipe 29. The screen with its supporting and car-- rying mechanism together with the rcceiv-- ing pan 28 is preferably inclined slightly toward the feed end as shown in Fig. 2. To prevent the juices which strain through the upper section of the screen from falling upon the lower section of the screen, 1 provide an inclined baffle plate 30 between the two sections, supported in any suitable manner.

In operation the feed trough 25 discharges crushed cane together with the mill juices upon the upper portion of the screen 2 1-. This portion acting as a conveyer, carries the material in the direction of the dis charge end by the action of the chains 17. The juices strain through the upper portion of the screen and are deflected from the lower portion into the receiving pan 28 which being preferably inclined, as above described, discharges them through the pipe 29. The bagasse and solid waste matter is carried to the discharge end of the device by the conveyor action, where it is thrown over by the continued travel of the screen. The particles of solid matter which tend to clog the screen are blown off by the blast of steam or compressed air, near the discharge end, so that the screen is automati cally kept clear.

The construction described effectively prevents sagging of the conveying portion of the screen into contact with the way-bars, and to adjust the support of the straps upon unworn surfaces, the way-bars may be moved transversely of the machine and set in any desired position by reason of their support upon the stay-rods. The screen itself never comes into contact with the way-bars, and being disposed in the plane of the chain link pivots is not strained in passing over the ends of the device.

I have shown and described a specific form of my invention merely to illustrate its principles and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown or to the exact details herein set forth.

I claim 1. In a straining device, the combination with a traveling endless screen having a conveying portion, and means for feeding the material to the conveying portion of the screen; of a plurality of supporting cross straps upon which said screen is mounted, adapted to keep the screen free from frictional contact, and a plurality of longitudinal way-bars upon which said supporting cross straps slide.

2. In a straining device, the combination with a traveling endless screen having a conveying portion, and means for feeding the material to the conveying portion of the screen; of a plurality of supporting cross straps upon which said screen is mounted, a plurality of perforated longitudinal way-bars upon which said supporting cross straps slide, and stay-rods passing through and supporting the perforated way-bars.

8. In a straining device, the combination with two endless chains suitably driven, a plurality of supporting cross straps carried by said chains, an endless screen suitably mounted upon said supporting cross straps and having a conveying portion, and means for feeding the material to the conveying portion of the screen; of perforated longitudinal Vay-bars upon which said supporting cross straps slide, and stay-rods passing through and supporting said waybars.

4. In a straining device, the combination with the traveling endless screen, supporting cross-bars, and stay-rods; of longitudinal way-bars adjustably mounted upon said stay rods and providing a way upon which said supporting cross straps move.

5. A straining device comprising in combination a traveling endless screen, chains to which said screen is secured and in the line of whose pivots the screen is disposed,

and sprocket wheels over which said chains tween the upper and lower portions of said run. A screen.

6. straining device comprising in combination a traveling endless screen, ar- FRANK EDWIN B 5 ranged with one portion above the other, a Witnesses:

juice receiving pan beneath both portions of C. A. DoWsE, said screen, and a bafiie plate arranged be- A. L. POTTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

